Magnetic closure



June 24, 1969 M. BAERMANN MAGNETIC CLOSURE Filed Dec. 27, 1966 INVENTOR.MAX BAERMANN ATTORNEYS.

US. Cl. 292-251.5

United States Patent 3,451,706 MAGNETIC CLOSURE Max Baermann, Bensberg,Germany (506 Bensberg, Wulfshof, Bezirk Cologne, Germany) Filed Dec. 27,1966, Ser. No. 604,683 Int. Cl. E05c 19/16, 17/56 4 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A closure arrangement for a pair of relatively movablemembers wherein one of the members is provided with a relatively flatelongated surface of a material attractable to a magnet, and the othermember is provided with a flexible magnet in elongated relatively flatstrip form. One edge portion of the magnet stripis secured to said othermember, the opposing edge portion projecting from the member incantilever fashion. The members are movable relative to each other sothat the flat surface of the attractable material is contiguous with theprojecting edge portion of the flexible magnet strip when the membersare in a normally closed relationship.

This invention relates to the closure art and more particularly to amagnet closure.

The present invention is particularly applicable to magnetic closuresfor a fixed frame member and a movable door member, aud it will bedescribed with particular reference thereto; however, it will beappreciated that the invention has broader applications and may be usedin other closure arrangements, as for instance, a closure for twomovable members.

The present invention contemplates the use of a flexible permanentmagnet in the construction of a magnetic closure. Such magnets are knownin the art; see for instance, my US. Patent 2,959,832 issued Nov. 15,1960. This patent describes a flexible magnet consisting of particles ofa powdered, permanent magnetic material dispersed throughout anonmagnetic, flexible plastic binder. The disclosure of this patent isincorporated by reference herein to the extent necessary for a completeunderstanding of one type of flexible magnet and its method ofmanufacture, useful in the practice of the present invention.

Fexible magnets have heretofore found utility in full peripheralclosures for refrigerators, freezers, humidity cabinets and the likewhere the closure also serves as a seal. In order to compensate fordeviations in the space between the door and frame, it was foundexpedient to back the flexible magnet with an air tube, a foam plate, orother similar cushioning means. This too is mentioned in my US. Patent2,959,832. While this arrangement works very satisfactorily, it isexpensive, in terms of materials and manufacturing costs, and inaddition, results in a closure which is bulkier than desirable forcertain applications.

The present invention overcomes these and other disadvantages of theprior art, and in addition provides a closure which is essentiallynoiseless in operation.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a magneticclosure for a fixed frame member and a movable door member comprising atleast one flexible magnet having an edge portion secured to one of themembers, with the remainder of the flexible magnet, being freelysuspended in cantilever fashion and projecting into the path of travelof the movable door member.

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a magneticclosure of improved construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a magnetic closureutilizing a flexible magnet, which does not require the use of a backingof cushioning means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a magnetic closureutilizing a flexible magnet, which is less costly and less bulky thansimilar closures known to the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide a magnetic closure whichis essentially noiseless in operation.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description of a preferred embodiment of theinvention when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic, perspective view of a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic, section view showing a specific closurearrangement; and

FIGURE 3 is a schematic, section view of a modified closure arrangement.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings I are for purposesof illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention only and not forthe purpose of limiting the same, FIGURE 1 shows a cabinet designatedgenerally as 10, comprising fixed frame member 12 and movable doormember 14, having installed therein a magnetic closure comprisingflexible magnet 16 having an edge portion thereof secured along theperiphery of movable door member 14, with the remainder of the flexiblemagnet being freely suspended in cantilever fashion and projecting intothe path of travel of movable door member 14. The magnetic closurefurther comprises magnetic means such as second flexible magnet 18having an edge portion secured to the periphery of fixed frame member12, the remainder of the second flexible magnet being freely suspendedin cantilever fashion and projecting into the path of the travel ofmovable door member 14. Flexible magnets 16, 18 are positioned relativeto each other so that a portion of flexible magnet 16 overlaps in frontof flexible magnet 18.

As best seen in FIGURE 2, flexible magnet 18 secured to fixed framemember 12 defines, in its unflexed condition, the closed terminus of thepath of travel of movable door member 14. Since the overlapping portionsof flexible magnets 16, 18 are free standing, they are able throughflexure to compensate for any deviations in the space between fixedframe member 12 and movable door member 14, without the need for acushioning backing attached to one of the flexible magnets. In order tolimit the extent to which movable door member 14 can be pushed beyondthe normal closed terminus of its path of travel (i.e. the positionshown in FIGURE 2), member 12 is provided with backstop 20, and movabledoor member 14 is provided with protrusion 21. Thus, as movable doormember 14 is closed, it can advance only to a point where protrusion 21contacts backstop 20.

It is within the contemplation of the .invention to replace one or theother of flexible magnets 16, 18 with an inflexible magnetic means, suchas an inflexible magnetically permeable material, e.g., a strip of ironor steel, or an inflexible magnetized material, e.g., a strip of iron orsteel. Thus, the invention contemplates closures using either one or twoflexible magnets. It will of course, be understood that where twomagnets are used, be they both flexible or one flexible and the otherinflexible, opposite poles on the two magnets must be adjacent to eachother to effect a closure. As described in my US. Patent 2,959,832, thepoles on a flexible magnet may either run longitudinally along thelength of the magnet, or transversely across the length of the magnet;and preferably only one surface of the magnet is polarized. Inflexiblemagnets, where used, will of course be magnetized in a correspondingdirection. Either of these arrangements is satisfactory for purposes ofthe present invention.

Flexible magnets 16, 18 as well as an inflexible replacement for one,may have their edge portions secured to the fixed frame member andmovable door member in any suitable fashion, as for instance, by the useof adhesives, or fasteners such as staples. Alternatively, the edges maybe press fit in a slot formed in the frame or door members as shown inFIGURE 2. If the frame or door members are laminated structures, theedge portions may be set between lamina.

The width, and thickness of the flexible magnets, the dimensionalproportion of secured edge portion to the freely suspended remainder,and the amount of overlap of a flexible magnet with its mating magneticmeans, can all be varied within reasonable limits. Suitable valves forthese parameters will in part be determined by the strength of themagnet or magnets, the degree of flexibility of the at least oneflexible magnet used, and the use of one or two flexible magnets. In onelimited aspect of the invention, the flexible magnet may range inthickness from about to about Ms", have a Width in the range of fromabout to have a secured edge portion amounting to about a quarter or athird of its width, and an overlap with a mating magnetic meansamounting to about a third to a half of its width.

The flexible magnets produced in accordance with my US. Patent2,959,832, are generally dark in color; however they may be providedwith a facing of any desired color in accordance with the practicedescribed and claimed in my US Patent 3,191,106 issued June 22, 1965.

FIGURE 3, shows a modification of the invention as applied to a cabinethaving a metal door member. Here the cabinet comprises fiXed framemember 22, and movable metal door member 24, provided with magneticmeans, which may take the form of a turned down flange or lip 26 ofmovable metal door member 24. Fixed frame member 24 has secured to it byany suitable fastening means, such as rivet 28, flexible magnet 30 andbackstop 32.

The present invention has been described in conjunction with certainstructural embodiments; however, it is to be appreciated that variousstructural changes may be made in the illustrated embodiments withoutdeparting from the intended scope and spirit of the present invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A closure arrangement for a pair of relatively movable members saidmembers defining elongated cooperating parts which are contiguous whenthe movable members are in a normally closed relationship:

a relatively flat elongated surface of a material attract able to amagnet supported by one of said parts;

a flexible magnet in elongated relatively flat strip form supported bythe other of said parts, said flexible magnet including an elongatedfirst edge portion rigidly secured to the other of said parts and anelongated relatively flat opposing edge portion projecting from saidother part in cantilever fashion;

said flexible magnet projecting edge portion and said surface ofattractable material being supported by said closure parts so that onedefines a path of travel and the other a terminus for said path oftravel.

2. The closure arrangement of claim 1 wherein one of said members isrelatively fixed and the other of said members is relatively movable,said flexible magnet being secured to said relatively fixed member andin its unflexed condition defining the normally closed terminus for thepath of travel of said surface of attractable material.

3. The closure arrangement of claim 1 wherein one of said members isrelatively fixed and the other of said members is relatively movable,said flexible magnet being secured to said relatively movable member,said relatively flat elongated surface of attractable material definingthe normally closed terminus of the path of travel of said flexiblemagnet.

4. The closure arrangement of claim 1 wherein one of said members isrelatively fixed and the other of said members is relatively movable,both of said parts comprising a flexible magnet supported thereon eachincluding an elongated first edge portion rigidly secured to the partand an elongated relatively flat opposing edge portion projecting fromthe part in cantilever fashion, one of the projecting edge portionsdefining the terminus of the path of travel of the other projecting edgeportion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,221,375 12/1965 Lewis 292-251.5X 3,260,788 7/1966 Stetson 292-2515 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,068,908 2/1954France.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

E. I. MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner.

